How do you like the sound of a marquee wedding on the grounds of Manorhamilton Castle. Sounds good doesn't it? Well that's exactly what today's real wedding couple, Ciara and David did! Bride Ciara dreamed of a wedding at home in Leitrim, and why wouldn't she when her parents live on the grounds of a castle (yes, yes we're all jealous!) It was all hands on deck to create a sweet homemade celebration and the photographs by Darek Smietana captured all the sweet decor details...

So how did Ciara and David meet, well it all started when they moved into a shared house in Kilmainham over 5 years ago...David was fresh back from travelling around South America and looking for a place to live before getting back to work and real life. I showed him around the house and although sparks didn’t fly immediately, as we got to know each other over the next couple of months, romance definitely blossomed! And when a year later my work brought me to Brussels, and David moved with me, I knew he was definitely the one.

Ok so before we find out about the proposal, we have to pause for a few moments and take in Ciara's bridal preparation. Can anyone say flower power? With a marquee wedding at home, Ciara was able to express her inner boho child and her floral crown is so dainty and sweet! A beautiful addition to her Bardot dress from Stephanie Allin. Flowers played a huge roll in Ciara and David's wedding as you will see from the photographs...

So Back to the love story, I think we left off when David followed Ciara to Brussells, he sounds like a real sweetie doesn't he?! So I'm dying to know how he popped the question...David got down on one knee, when we were on holidays in San Sebastian. It’s a foodie heaven and David had booked a wonderful meal in a 3 star Michelin restaurant, but it was a bit of a waste because it was difficult to eat with all the excitement!

The pair didn't stray far for their ceremony, choosing Manorhamilton Church to say I do.

Gorgeous -  I love this photograph, a pretty boho bride, a floral arch and a dapper groom!

The pair escaped to the grounds of Ciara's parents home to take some intimate photographs with their photographer, Darek Smietana.

Ciara's dress is not only gorgeous but adaptable too. Ciara had a sage green sash with a peach flower brooch and she also had a lace bolero that tied at the back with a silk ribbon - a simple way to change your look from ceremony to party! If you're looking for bridal cover ups check out our 10 Stylish Bridal and Bridesmaid Cover Ups post.

Ciara and David decided on a marquee wedding at home, and with the gorgeous snaps to follow it looks like it worked out beautifully... Having a marquee allowed us to create the day how we wanted. To be able to get married at home was so special. Our family and friends were able to help us decorate and the party was able to continue uninhibited by the normal restrictions you might have in a hotel.

Flowers, flowers, flowers! Ciara and David incorporated beautiful blooms throughout their day, from Ciara's flower crown to the table centre pieces and outdoor seating area decor. The talented bunch (gettit) behind Ciara and David's flowers were Leitrim Flowers.

As soon as I spotted Ciara's stylish bridal look and David's bright blue (Louis Copeland) suit I knew their guests would be dressed to impress, and I wasn't wrong! The wedding  guests donned the perfect Summer garden party attire to celebrate in the sun...

Having a wedding at home gives your free rein when it comes to decorating and Ciara and David didn't shy away from the task, roping in a few friends to help of course...All the little details made the day special for us. David and I spent a lot of time, making the name cards from wine corks and card, my Mum spent months collecting vintage tea sets, David and my sister hand painted the signs and drew the map in the invitations.

The feel on the day was romantic and fun. We didn’t have a particular colour scheme or theme. We focused on having lots of pretty wildflowers from the locally sourced Leitrim Flowers, vintage tea sets collected by my Mum and romantic handmade decorations. We wanted to create a natural and carefree atmosphere, more summer fête than formal wedding.

We really wanted our wedding to as much about having a good time and celebrating as possible. The most important thing for us was that our guests would have a relaxed and fun day.

And to finish off their meal a dessert table - and what a dessert table!

Our own editor, Naoise had a marquee wedding at home so we know the trials and tribulations well. Ciara and David's seemed to go off without a hitch, so what were their words of wisdom?  Planning a marquee wedding can be very stressful; you have a lot more suppliers and choices to make than booking a traditional venue. If you can manage it though, you can have a wonderful, personal wedding day. Choosing suppliers is key and we were very lucky to work with people like Derek Jackson from Carnival Marquees who brought the whole day together.

Congratulations Ciara and David on your gorgeous marquee celebration! A huge thanks goes to Darek Smietana for sharing his work with us at One Fab Day. To see more of Darek's work pop over to www.dareksmietana.com

The Wedding Details

• Ceremony: Manorhamilton Church
• Reception: The Grounds Of Manorhamilton Castle
• Photographer: Darek Smietana Photography
• Wedding Dress: Stephanie Allin, Bardot dress
• Flowers: Leitrim Flowers
• Groom suit: Canali from Louis Copeland 
• Cake: The Kitchen Baker, Fionnuala Kelm
• Banner & Branches mini-books: Minted

• Wedding Bands: Soraya Ricalde 
• Ceremony Music: Ceremony: Rachel Byrne Soprano & Harpist,
• Reception Music: Neil Eurelle and Band: The Trips 
• Marquee: Carnival Marquees
• Caterers: Courtyard Catering
• Catering Hire Services: All Affairs 
• Wines: The French Market 
• Make Up & Hair: Make-up: Siobhan Casey, Lakeview Beauty Haven & Mary Gilgunn

If you loved Manorhamilton Castle as much as we did, Ciara's parents give tours of the grounds! Find out more here!